Sterling Municipal Airport gets flag pole

Donated by VFW, other local patriots

Members of the Sterling VFW and others local patriots who contributed to the project, pose for a picture next to the new flag pole they recently put up at Sterling Municipal Airport. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

Those who contributed to the flag pole project at Sterling Municipal Airport, include, from left; John Lester, of the Sterling VFW; Randy Anderson, of Home Depot, Paul Schrade, of Luft Machine; VFW Commander Dan Torres; and Patrick O'Brien, the airport manager. Other contributors included Chris Dinsdale, Darrel Mertens, Patrick Klinzmann, Curt Penny and Bohler Well Service. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

STERLING — There's something new greeting airplanes that fly into Sterling Municipal Airport -- a flag pole, with an America flag blowing proudly in the wind.

The new flag pole, which is the first one the airport has ever had, was donated by the Jake Uhrig VFW Post 3541, of Sterling, and local patriots.

The project, which was finished just last week, started last fall, when VFW Commander Dan Torres learned the airport didn't have a flag pole or a flag flying.

“I was very surprised,” he said.

Being a veteran is one of the things Torres is really proud of and as a veteran he has great respect for the flag. So, he set out to see if he could get a flag pole and flag put in.

A plaque next to the new flag pole provides information about who donated it. The plaque was made by Sterling Monument. (Callie Jones/Journal-Advocate)

The first thing he did was approach the VFW, to see if they would be interested in taking it on as a project.

“I took it to the club and the members decided, 'Let's do it,'” Torres said.

Then he went to some local patriots, all pilots, to see if they wanted to help and they did. They contributed between one-third and half of the total cost.

Among the contributors are Randy Anderson, of Home Depot; Paul Schrade of Luft Machine; Chris Dinsdale; Darrel Mertens; Pat Klinzmann; Curt Penny; and Bohler Well Service.

Schrade did research on poles, to figure out what kind of pole would be the best to put up, because they wanted one that would last for a long time, and Torres spent a lot of time working with Pat O'Brien, the airport manager, to figure out where to place the pole.

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The flag pole sits next to a tower near the front of the airport, which the city of Sterling installed lights on, because for a flag to fly 24 hours a day it has to be under light.

While it was important for the flag to have lighting, they made sure that it won't distract pilots who are coming into the airport, by having the lights shine downward onto the flag.

For the finishing touch, the group worked with Sterling Monument, who gave them a good deal on a plaque that sits next to the flag pole, with information about who donated the pole.